Siaka MOMOH
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals exported an estimated 1.66 billion litres of refined petroleum products in April 2026, reinforcing the country’s emergence as a major fuel export hub amid escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran.
A document from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)cited on Tuesday showed that the refinery exported approximately 513 million litres of petrol, 534 million litres of diesel, and 615 million litres of aviation fuel during the month.
The surge in exports comes as global energy markets face renewed uncertainty over the security of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical shipping corridor for global oil and fuel supplies — following worsening diplomatic tensions involving the US and Iran.
Dangote Refinery Emerges as Strategic Supplier
The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery located in Lekki is currently Nigeria’s only large-scale operational refinery producing sufficient volumes for both domestic consumption and exports.
The April figures represent the refinery’s strongest export performance since operations began, with total shipments averaging about 55.4 million litres per day.
Industry analysts say the development highlights Nigeria’s growing importance in global refined fuel markets as buyers seek alternative suppliers outside the Middle East.
With concerns mounting over potential supply disruptions in the Gulf region, demand for refined products from Africa has strengthened, particularly across Europe, West Africa and parts of Asia.
Nigeria Moves Toward Net Fuel Exporter Status
The latest export data further underscores Nigeria’s transition from one of Africa’s largest fuel importers to a significant exporter of refined petroleum products.
According to the NMDPRA report, domestic refineries operated at an average utilisation rate of 99.12 per cent in April, with the Dangote refinery reportedly running at full capacity for most of the month.
